NEW DELHI, April 19: Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said on Saturday that he was concerned by the re-emergence of “Taliban-inspired terrorism” in Afghanistan.
“... As a neighbour and friend of Afghanistan, we are greatly concerned at the re-emergence of Taliban-inspired and ISI-backed terrorism in parts of Afghanistan,” he said.
Mr Sinha said the Taliban were involved in the killing of a foreign national working for the International Committee of Red Cross as well as two US soldiers in the country.
He also added that a large number of Taliban followers were recently apprehended after they entered the country with arms, ammunition and publicity literature against the Afghan government.
“A memorandum was also submitted on April 14 on behalf of people of Kandahar, calling upon Pakistan to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, and to stop supplying bombs and explosives to terrorists,” he added.
The foreign minister said that the international campaign on terrorism should not condone terrorism in some countries while choosing to punish others.
“Those connected to the heinous acts of September 11, had inter-linkages in terms of collaborators, funding, indoctrination and training in places including our neighbourhood,” he said.
“State agencies and groups directly sponsored by our western neighbour are also known to have provided safe haven and logistical support to fleeing Al Qaeda and Taliban elements,” Sinha added.—AFP
